Sunshine Coast schools are reminding students and their families not to hesitate if they experience symptoms of fatigue and coughing.

Dr Mason Stevenson from the Australian Medical Association of Queensland told ABC's Annie Gaffney that the outbreak on the Sunshine Coast is part of a worldwide epidemic.

"The reality is that we're in our fifth year of the epidemic," he said.

"It's sweeping the continent including the UK and America; yet there's small dip this year."

Dr Mason explains that although this year's world cases are down, numbers are up in Queensland.

"While we've had 40,000 known cases each year for the last four years, this year we think we will only have 20,000.

"Yet we're seeing an up surge on the Sunshine Coast at the moment."

New immunisation

New cases of whooping cough which have developed in the last five years have caused issues with immunisation.

"While we've focused on immunisation rates, we now know that new cases in the last five years are a new strain, so the immunisation isn't as effective as it was in the past," Dr Mason explains.

"It's still the only way to protect yourself, but it might only partially protect you."

Doctors overseas have discovered that past immunisations are only effective for 10 years and the wild strain will only give patients natural immunity for 10 years.

"Behind the scenes scientists are working feverishly around a new vaccine to make it more effective," explains Dr Mason.

See a doctor

"We see whooping cough during all seasons and most cases are seen in adults who then pass it onto kids," he said.

"When infants are affected, the mother usually contracts it and passes it onto the infant which is why we're focusing on mothers and encouraging them to think about vaccination before the birth of the child."

Dr Mason says the key is encouraging people to see a doctor sooner rather than later.

"If you have a cough that is pushing well into a second week, you should see a doctor as early detection means early treatment.

"If you come to us beyond three or four weeks there's nothing we can do for you and yes, you may have a cough that lasts three months," he concluded.